After Saturday night live joked about Will Smith’s infamous Oscars moment during several segments of the April 2 episode, it looks like the NBC series will take some time this week to address the latest developments.
During Saturday’s “Weekend Updates,” co-host Colin Jost made an announcement Friday by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences that King Richard the star was banned from all organization events, including the Academy Awards, for the next 10 years after slapping host Chris Rock during last month’s Oscars.
Jost said: “To punish Chris Rock, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences banned Will Smith from attending the Oscars for 10 years. “But is that a punishment? He can still be nominated. He might even win an award. He might even go party after party.”
Jost continued, “He doesn’t have to attend the 4-hour ceremony where someone is bound to mock his wife again.”
The SNL the star followed up on the joke by showing a photo of himself and “Weekend Update” co-star Michael Che looking uncomfortable while co-hosting the 70th Primetime Emmy Awards in 2018.
“Honestly, I think a real punishment would be to have Will Smith host next year’s Oscars,” quipped Jost. “Because, believe me, nothing makes you question your choices in life more than hosting an awards show.”
The Academy’s board of governors held a special meeting on Friday to discuss taking action against Smith, who apologized to the Academy after the slap while accepting the Academy Award for Best Actor. his best. On April 1, Smith announced he would be stepping down as a member of the group.
Since Friday’s decision, dozens of Academy members have shared their reactions with The Hollywood Reporterwith one member calling the penalty “too much” and another member rating it as “too little and too late.”
Smith issued a brief statement Friday to say he would “accept and respect” the decision. Meanwhile, Rock remains mostly mom about the change that followed the comedian’s Oscar joke about Smith’s wife, Jada Pinkett Smith, having her head shaved. (The actress suffers from alopecia areata.)
